HomeCommerceEducationMontgomery County Community College workforce development helps businesses press their advantage

Montgomery County Community College workforce development helps businesses press their advantage

With headquarters on the West Campus in Pottstown, Montgomery County Community College’s Workforce Development Division provides flexible, customized training programs for individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Montgomery County. (Photo by David DeBalko/courtesy of Montgomery County Community College.)

Montgomery County businesses trying to increase their competitive advantage in the workplace have a unique asset in the Workforce Development Program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC).

Astea International, Inc., a global technology company based in Horsham, Pa., recognized that to be more competitive in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing global business environment, it needed continually to invest in assessing and training its workforce. So, it found a cost-effective way to assess its needs, plan and execute a training plan, and remain competitive through MCCC’s Workforce Development Program, according to a press release.

Trisha Odoms, Astea’s human resource manager, discovered Pennsylvania’s Workforce Grant program, WEDNetPA, which connected her with MCCC’s Workforce Development Division, which provides expert and experienced instructors to provide training in many areas including professional development, manufacturing and information technology.

“We customize training based on a company’s specific needs and deliver it on-site,” says Jim Fox, MCCC’s executive director of Workforce Development. “In many instances, grants cover the costs. We want more companies in the county to know what a valuable asset MCCC’s Workforce Development Program is and we want to become their training resource.”

Odoms met with the program directors at MCCC, and they developed a training plan for the company for the year, focusing on areas that would help it improve and remain competitive. She also consulted with several of MCCC’s subject matter experts to develop on-site, convenient training for the team at Astea International.

“The economy is improving and the rate of change is fast, and you need to constantly equip your employees with new skills in order to improve and retain your workforce,” she says.

“Within a few days, MCCC’s Workforce Development Division contacted me about the grant and my training needs. They customized leadership and information technology training specific to Astea and delivered the training right in our corporate headquarters. The instructors were world-class instructors who have helped multiple global companies, and most importantly, they were experts in their fields, personable and affordable,” she adds.

About Montgomery County Community CollegeFor more than 50 years, Montgomery County Community College has grown with the community to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the College’s thriving campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, at the Culinary Arts Institute in Lansdale and online through a robust Virtual Campus.

As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to increase completion, improve learning outcomes, and remove barriers to access for students. The College also is recognized regionally and nationally for its sustainability leadership, work with military veterans, community service and service learning opportunities, and use of classroom technology. For more information, visithttp://www.mc3.edu.